Swaziland in 1999

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Swaziland in 1999 saw continuing delay in the work of the Constitutional Review Commission. Groups such as the People’s United Democratic Movement that were demanding multiparty democracy changed their strategies and adopted active measures. They were believed to be linked to a number of bombings aimed at the government status quo. Two offices of Swaziland’s unique tinkhundla (grass roots) government system were bombed, as were buildings in the traditional capital, Lobamba. Antiestablishment forces also mounted two demonstrations in South Africa, including one at the Commonwealth summit in Durban in November.

The main government, the world’s last remaining absolute monarchy, resisted and struck back. After two years of drafting the document, it launched its National Development Strategy (NDS), a vision of economic direction to 2022. The government imposed censorship on anticipated criticism of the NDS and successfully infiltrated and exerted its influence within the labour unions. Such political controversy was highly unusual.

Swaziland’s unemployment rate stood at 40%, annual economic growth had been about 2% since 1997, population growth was about 2.7%, and inflation was nearly 8%.